Nagpur, India: A tragic incident occurred on Sunday afternoon as three women from Nagpur drowned in the Bagh River near Korni Ghat in Gondia district while performing post-funeral rituals.

The women — Meenakshi Santosh Baghel (39), Neetu Shatrudhan Baghel (35), and Mirabai Ishulal Turkar (50) — had travelled to Pagartola village to participate in the Pind Daan ceremony for a relative who had passed away recently. The ritual, meant to offer prayers for the deceased’s soul, took a heartbreaking turn when one of the women slipped into deep water around 1:30 PM.

According to police, Neetu Baghel lost her footing while entering the river. In an attempt to save her, Meenakshi and Mirabai jumped in, but all three were swept away by the current. A fourth woman who also entered the water to help was rescued by a family member.

Rawanwadi Police and local villagers quickly launched a search operation and recovered the bodies. The deceased were taken to KTS District General Hospital for post-mortem examinations. The police have registered a case of accidental death under the guidance of Inspector Vaibhav Pawar.

The family, already grieving the recent loss of Mukesh Turkar on 30 May, has been left shattered by the incident. Local authorities have since issued fresh warnings urging caution near rivers, especially during ritualistic activities.